Order from a Major Online Bookstore
Ultimate Book Price Comparison Engine
Save Your Time And Money
| AnyBook4Less.com | Order from a Major Online Bookstore |
|
| Home | Store List | FAQ | Contact Us | | ||
| Ultimate Book Price Comparison Engine Save Your Time And Money |
||
 |
Title: The River God's Vengeance by John Maddox Roberts ISBN: 0-312-32319-0 Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books Pub. Date: 01 January, 2004 Format: Hardcover Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $23.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.33 (3 reviews)
Rating: 3
Summary: Preachy
Comment: This is a good book but the ending isn't done well.He preaches the virtues of good and justice to the villain when he should be running for his life.This preaching goes on far too long.
Rating: 5
Summary: Great fun. Fascinating historical mystery
Comment: Roman tenement apartments fall down all the time and aedile Decius Caecilius Metellus figures this is just another straightforward prosecution of building code violations. But as he investigates, he discovers that the pattern of late Roman Republican corruption has spread even further into the city than he had imagined. The building collapse might not be just bad building materials, but premeditated murder. And his investigations put him in both physical danger and at odds with his powerful family. And then there are the filthy sewers. With the Tiber River set to flood, the sewers seem ready to back up. To a good Roman, the crimes threaten to go beyond criminal all the way to impious.
Decius makes a wonderful and memorable character with his offhand comments on Roman society, on figures like Caesar, Pompey, and Cicero that have become history, and with his strangely consistent attitudes toward corruption and friendship. This case pushes Decius outside of his comfort zone--making him deal with the one man he hates more than any other--the stuffy Cato. It also gives him plenty of opportunity to walk the streets of ancient Rome, dodge the gangs fighting for control of the dying republic, and give his pithy observations on the curious and fascinating social structures that made Rome work.
Author John Maddox Roberts does a fine job recreating a critical period in world history, delivering an interesting mystery that fits the historical period, and offering a fascinating first-person protagonist. I found myself laughing out loud at Decius's observations on his world--and his thoughts on humanity in general. Roberts's writing is fast-paced and compelling. I read the book in a single sitting then checked to make sure there weren't more books in the series that I need to get my hands on right away. I recommend THE RIVER GOD'S VENGEANCE to anyone who enjoys history, democratic government, or a rollicking good mystery.
Rating: 5
Summary: Grat historical mystery
Comment: In the City of Rome, Decius Caecilius Metellus assumed the aedilship. This office has no perks, is very expensive for the incumbent, and is very necessary if a citizen wants to rise high in the political system. The aedile has to make sure the sewers and drains are in working order, make sure the building contractors are kept honest, and inspect the brothels, the one bonus in the job.
When a new building suddenly collapses, killing over two hundred and fifty people and slaves, Decius is on the job acting as a modern day arson investigator. He sees that Lucius Folius and his wife, wealthy merchants in the building trade, were killed with their necks snapped. The slaves were cruelly whipped and bore deep scars as tight runaway collars on their necks. Holes were bored into the foundation of the building causing it to collapse. Further detecting shows that Folius was involved in the collapse of other buildings. Decius concludes that a conspiracy of highly placed politicians was involved in the scam with him. Decius is determined to bring all the perpetrators to justice even if it means putting his own life on the line.
John Maddox Roberts places his heroic protagonist in the last years of the Roman Republic where crime, corruption and violence are at an all time high level. Decius, politically astute and delightfully devious, uses unique methods to see that justice prevails. The author has meticulously researched Roman history making readers feel like they are actually events that are happening now.
Harriet Klausner
 |
Title: The Tribune's Curse: SPQR VII by John Maddox Roberts ISBN: 0312304889 Publisher: St. Martin's Minotaur Pub. Date: 01 April, 2003 List Price(USD): $22.95 |
 |
Title: The Judgment of Caesar by Steven Saylor ISBN: 0312271190 Publisher: St. Martin's Minotaur Pub. Date: 01 June, 2004 List Price(USD): $24.95 |
 |
Title: All Roads Lead to Murder: A Case from the Notebooks of Pliny the Younger by Albert A. Bell Jr., William Martin Johnson ISBN: 097130453X Publisher: High Country Publishers Pub. Date: 01 October, 2002 List Price(USD): $21.95 |
 |
Title: The Accusers: A Marcus Didius Falco Mystery Novel by Lindsey Davis ISBN: 0892968117 Publisher: Mysterious Press Pub. Date: 22 April, 2004 List Price(USD): $25.00 |
 |
Title: The Mammoth Book of Roman Whodunnits by Mike Ashley ISBN: 0786712414 Publisher: Carroll & Graf Publishers Pub. Date: 01 October, 2003 List Price(USD): $11.95 |
Thank you for visiting www.AnyBook4Less.com and enjoy your savings!
Copyright� 2001-2021 Send your comments
